1 Co-operation Ends and the Cold War Begins
Allied Powers Axis Powers
Britain Winston Churchill Germany Adolf Hitler
USA Franklin D Roosevelt Italy Benito Mussolini
USSR Josef Stalin Japan Emperor Hirohito
China KMT
France Charles de Gaulle
Ideological Differences
October 1917, Bolsheviks seized power in Russia:
- Worried capitalist democracies as Bolsheviks believed in communism.
Mutual distrust grew:
• Britain, USA, France, and Japan helped the opponents when civil war broke out during Russian Revolution.
• Britain refused to recognise Russia’s communist govt. until 1924.
• USA refused to recognise Russia’s communist govt. until 1933.
• During 1930s, Britain and France refused to join alliance with Russia against Nazi Germany.
Josef Stalin was aware of the West’s hostility to communism. He began Five-Year Plans to prepare USSR’s economy
for a fight against the West, whom he believed wanted to destroy the USSR. Stalin signed a Non-Aggression Pact with
Hitler in August 1939 – USSR didn’t go to war with Germany with the rest of the Allies.
Pre-1945
When Germany invaded USSR in June 1941, Stalin and the Allies joined together. Soviets lost about 20 million people
during the war, yet Britain and America ignored USSR’s pleas to open a ‘second front’ until the D-Day invasion in June
1944.
Stalin remained suspicious of the West – believing UK and US had delayed D-Day hoping the USSR and Germany
would destroy each other.
Yalta, Feb 1945
‘Big Three’ met to discuss post-war Europe.
Churchill Roosevelt Stalin
Survival of British Empire. Unkeen on revival of British Empire. Wanted a ‘buffer zone’ between
USSR was a danger to the West Wanted establishment of United Western Europe and USSR to
which had to be stopped – USSR Nations and wanted USSR to join it. protect against further attack.
was pushing Germans into Western
Europe, taking Hungary and Poland.
Agreements made at Yalta
• Germany and Berlin divided into 4 zones.
• Germany would pay reparations.
• UN established.
• USSR would declare war on Japan in August.
• New borders for Poland.
• Eastern Europe would come under influence of USSR; however, democratic elections were to be held.
Inter-conference Changes
• Hitler was dead and war in Europe was over.
• Soviet troops dispersed throughout Eastern Europe.
• Roosevelt died and replaced by Truman.
• Clement Attlee replaced Churchill.
• US and UK attitudes towards USSR were hardening; Germany was being stripped of resources and saw a
puppet state being set up in Eastern European countries.
Potsdam, July 1945
• How Germany would be divided and occupied.
• Each power could take reparations from its own zone. The USSR could take some reparations from the UK
and US zones in return for supplying food, fuel, and raw materials.
• Changes to Germany’s border with Poland.
, Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The war in Europe was over, but Japan was still fighting. The Japanese fought so well during the capture of Iwo Jima
and Okinawa that American generals feared a conquest of Japan may cost 1 million American lives. President Truman
feared a Soviet intervention in the Pacific like what was planned at Yalta; they may try to spread communism in the
Pacific.
On 21 July 1945, during the Potsdam conference, the US atomic bomb test was confirmed to be successful. He didn’t
inform Stalin of this development, which angered him and damaged the relationship between the two superpowers.
Hiroshima Nagasaki
6 August 1945 9 August 1945
‘Little Boy’
250,000 killed 14 August – Japanese surrender
Stalin was furious that he wasn’t told about the development of the atomic bomb in the US. He viewed Hiroshima as
an act of intimidation towards the USSR. He made a speech in Moscow in Feb 1946 where he accused the US of using
its atomic advantage to build an empire. The USSR had built an atomic bomb by 1949.
2 Emerging superpower rivalry and consequences, 1945-49
Actions of the USSR in Eastern Europe, 1945-49
After the Second World War, the Soviets continued to occupy their countries. At Yalta, it was agreed that democratic
elections should be held in these countries. Between 1945-47, elections were held in these countries, however they
were always won by parties friendly to Moscow – people began to believe the elections were rigged. Stalin saw this
as the creation of a ‘buffer zone’ to protect the USSR from another German invasion.
o USSR pressure to ensure communists held key positions in the temporary govts set up post-war.
o Suggesting radical changes to help the economy – helping communists gain popularity.
o Controlling elections to ensure a communist victory.
o Controlling the population via secret police.
By the end of 1947, Czechoslovakia was the only non-communist country in eastern Europe.
USSR Satellite States
Poland – 500,000 USSR soldiers remained there until 1947. Non-communist leaders were taken to Moscow and tried
for treason.
Hungary – elected a non-communist govt. in 1945, but communists, led by Mátyás Rákosi, gradually took over.
Romania – mass demonstrations put communist govt in power in 1945 – opponents arrested, and King abdicated.
Bulgaria – communist ‘People’s Militia’ terrorised population and communists took power in rigged election in 1946.
Albania – communists seized power by holding election with only communist candidates.
Yugoslavia – Tito was communist but didn’t support Stalin.
Response of USA and Allies
US views of the USSR was influenced by George Kennan. He argued that communism demanded the spread of
revolution worldwide, therefore the two superpowers couldn’t live in peace. Kennan influenced the creation of the
US policy of containment. The USA also failed to recognise that the USSR was obsessed with its own security.
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
Events in Greece
After the Second World War, the Allies agreed to train and equip the Greek Army as it was involved in conflict with the
Greek communists. Britain announced it couldn’t afford to continue funding Greek forces in March 1947. Truman
feared that if Greece became communist, so then would its oil-rich neighbours.
Truman Doctrine
Truman convinced Congress to make it the USA’s policy to use military and economic means to stop countries falling
to communism. Congress released $400 million, providing enough support to end the communist threat in Greece.
Marshall Plan
Truman believed that communism wouldn’t spread so easily if economic recovery took place. General George
Marshall agreed. He proposed an investment of $13.3 billion into Europe over a 4-year period. It would be offered to
all countries provided they open their markets to Western goods and make their economic records available for
inspection.
Allied Powers Axis Powers
Britain Winston Churchill Germany Adolf Hitler
USA Franklin D Roosevelt Italy Benito Mussolini
USSR Josef Stalin Japan Emperor Hirohito
China KMT
France Charles de Gaulle
Ideological Differences
October 1917, Bolsheviks seized power in Russia:
- Worried capitalist democracies as Bolsheviks believed in communism.
Mutual distrust grew:
• Britain, USA, France, and Japan helped the opponents when civil war broke out during Russian Revolution.
• Britain refused to recognise Russia’s communist govt. until 1924.
• USA refused to recognise Russia’s communist govt. until 1933.
• During 1930s, Britain and France refused to join alliance with Russia against Nazi Germany.
Josef Stalin was aware of the West’s hostility to communism. He began Five-Year Plans to prepare USSR’s economy
for a fight against the West, whom he believed wanted to destroy the USSR. Stalin signed a Non-Aggression Pact with
Hitler in August 1939 – USSR didn’t go to war with Germany with the rest of the Allies.
Pre-1945
When Germany invaded USSR in June 1941, Stalin and the Allies joined together. Soviets lost about 20 million people
during the war, yet Britain and America ignored USSR’s pleas to open a ‘second front’ until the D-Day invasion in June
1944.
Stalin remained suspicious of the West – believing UK and US had delayed D-Day hoping the USSR and Germany
would destroy each other.
Yalta, Feb 1945
‘Big Three’ met to discuss post-war Europe.
Churchill Roosevelt Stalin
Survival of British Empire. Unkeen on revival of British Empire. Wanted a ‘buffer zone’ between
USSR was a danger to the West Wanted establishment of United Western Europe and USSR to
which had to be stopped – USSR Nations and wanted USSR to join it. protect against further attack.
was pushing Germans into Western
Europe, taking Hungary and Poland.
Agreements made at Yalta
• Germany and Berlin divided into 4 zones.
• Germany would pay reparations.
• UN established.
• USSR would declare war on Japan in August.
• New borders for Poland.
• Eastern Europe would come under influence of USSR; however, democratic elections were to be held.
Inter-conference Changes
• Hitler was dead and war in Europe was over.
• Soviet troops dispersed throughout Eastern Europe.
• Roosevelt died and replaced by Truman.
• Clement Attlee replaced Churchill.
• US and UK attitudes towards USSR were hardening; Germany was being stripped of resources and saw a
puppet state being set up in Eastern European countries.
Potsdam, July 1945
• How Germany would be divided and occupied.
• Each power could take reparations from its own zone. The USSR could take some reparations from the UK
and US zones in return for supplying food, fuel, and raw materials.
• Changes to Germany’s border with Poland.
, Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The war in Europe was over, but Japan was still fighting. The Japanese fought so well during the capture of Iwo Jima
and Okinawa that American generals feared a conquest of Japan may cost 1 million American lives. President Truman
feared a Soviet intervention in the Pacific like what was planned at Yalta; they may try to spread communism in the
Pacific.
On 21 July 1945, during the Potsdam conference, the US atomic bomb test was confirmed to be successful. He didn’t
inform Stalin of this development, which angered him and damaged the relationship between the two superpowers.
Hiroshima Nagasaki
6 August 1945 9 August 1945
‘Little Boy’
250,000 killed 14 August – Japanese surrender
Stalin was furious that he wasn’t told about the development of the atomic bomb in the US. He viewed Hiroshima as
an act of intimidation towards the USSR. He made a speech in Moscow in Feb 1946 where he accused the US of using
its atomic advantage to build an empire. The USSR had built an atomic bomb by 1949.
2 Emerging superpower rivalry and consequences, 1945-49
Actions of the USSR in Eastern Europe, 1945-49
After the Second World War, the Soviets continued to occupy their countries. At Yalta, it was agreed that democratic
elections should be held in these countries. Between 1945-47, elections were held in these countries, however they
were always won by parties friendly to Moscow – people began to believe the elections were rigged. Stalin saw this
as the creation of a ‘buffer zone’ to protect the USSR from another German invasion.
o USSR pressure to ensure communists held key positions in the temporary govts set up post-war.
o Suggesting radical changes to help the economy – helping communists gain popularity.
o Controlling elections to ensure a communist victory.
o Controlling the population via secret police.
By the end of 1947, Czechoslovakia was the only non-communist country in eastern Europe.
USSR Satellite States
Poland – 500,000 USSR soldiers remained there until 1947. Non-communist leaders were taken to Moscow and tried
for treason.
Hungary – elected a non-communist govt. in 1945, but communists, led by Mátyás Rákosi, gradually took over.
Romania – mass demonstrations put communist govt in power in 1945 – opponents arrested, and King abdicated.
Bulgaria – communist ‘People’s Militia’ terrorised population and communists took power in rigged election in 1946.
Albania – communists seized power by holding election with only communist candidates.
Yugoslavia – Tito was communist but didn’t support Stalin.
Response of USA and Allies
US views of the USSR was influenced by George Kennan. He argued that communism demanded the spread of
revolution worldwide, therefore the two superpowers couldn’t live in peace. Kennan influenced the creation of the
US policy of containment. The USA also failed to recognise that the USSR was obsessed with its own security.
Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
Events in Greece
After the Second World War, the Allies agreed to train and equip the Greek Army as it was involved in conflict with the
Greek communists. Britain announced it couldn’t afford to continue funding Greek forces in March 1947. Truman
feared that if Greece became communist, so then would its oil-rich neighbours.
Truman Doctrine
Truman convinced Congress to make it the USA’s policy to use military and economic means to stop countries falling
to communism. Congress released $400 million, providing enough support to end the communist threat in Greece.
Marshall Plan
Truman believed that communism wouldn’t spread so easily if economic recovery took place. General George
Marshall agreed. He proposed an investment of $13.3 billion into Europe over a 4-year period. It would be offered to
all countries provided they open their markets to Western goods and make their economic records available for
inspection.
